As long as we're talking about distribution, I'd like to make the case for DC. Literally, a liquor store in the District can go to any state, but some beer, bring it back to home, tack on a tax, then legally sell it. It's getting more commonplace to see breweries such as FFF, New Glarus, Cigar City, Surly, and many, many others being sold.

Between the 3 "states (DC, MD, and VA)," the distribution pool is limitless. For example, one can head to the VA side for their Terrapin and Duck Rabbitt fix, over to Maryland to grab some Bar Harbor goodies, then into DC to get some FFF Dreadnaught. All of this can be done in about a 20 mile radius. The craft culture is pretty exciting in DC right now and in a few years, it wouldn't surprise me to see us on the list.

Beer Trader

As long as we're talking about distribution, I'd like to make the case for DC. Literally, a liquor store in the District can go to any state, but some beer, bring it back to home, tack on a tax, then legally sell it. It's getting more commonplace to see breweries such as FFF, New Glarus, Cigar City, Surly, and many, many others being sold.

Between the 3 "states (DC, MD, and VA)," the distribution pool is limitless. For example, one can head to the VA side for their Terrapin and Duck Rabbitt fix, over to Maryland to grab some Bar Harbor goodies, then into DC to get some FFF Dreadnaught. All of this can be done in about a 20 mile radius. The craft culture is pretty exciting in DC right now and in a few years, it wouldn't surprise me to see us on the list.

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How do they get around the transporting across state lines issue? Buying and selling are one thing, but the federal rules pertaining to transport are pretty strict.

How do they get around the transporting across state lines issue? Buying and selling are one thing, but the federal rules pertaining to transport are pretty strict.

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You know, that's a good question and I hope someone will chime in who knows a heck of a lot more about it than I do. Nevertheless, a large portion of liquor stores in DC do this. I do know that the laws pertaining to beer distribution in general are lax to non-existent. The next time I go into one of the stores I frequent, I'll ask about that.

Beer Trader

As long as we're talking about distribution, I'd like to make the case for DC. Literally, a liquor store in the District can go to any state, but some beer, bring it back to home, tack on a tax, then legally sell it. It's getting more commonplace to see breweries such as FFF, New Glarus, Cigar City, Surly, and many, many others being sold.

Between the 3 "states (DC, MD, and VA)," the distribution pool is limitless. For example, one can head to the VA side for their Terrapin and Duck Rabbitt fix, over to Maryland to grab some Bar Harbor goodies, then into DC to get some FFF Dreadnaught. All of this can be done in about a 20 mile radius. The craft culture is pretty exciting in DC right now and in a few years, it wouldn't surprise me to see us on the list.

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I can sure as hell say DC has some great spots to enjoy beer, and some solid breweries in the area. Can't really talk specifics on the district's policies regarding sale, but from what I remember, Montgomery County had it pretty shitty. Interesting stuff

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Well, that's just the beer culture in the PNW, generally. Sure there are the bars that have 4-8 taps of fizzy yellow beers, but they'll also a few taps of craft. At the very least you'll find Alaskan Amber, Fat Tire, and Mac n Jacks Amber in every Fisherman/Logger/Farmer/Redneck bar you walk into. And, honestly, most of those places will also have some local IPA on tap as well.

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To be fair, the whole conversation started because Nickydee21 said even the BMC dive bars in Philly have Victory and Yards, which doesn't sound terribly different than the BMC bars in Seattle having three different Ambers.

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Yards, Weyerbacher, PBC, Stoudts, Victory, Troegs all began in Philadelphia and only moved to suburbs for size. You lose. Go home.

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That's kind of like saying Brooklyn's best baseball team is the Dodgers.

Look, I'm not saying Philly shouldn't be on a list of great beer cities, or even that it shouldn't be high on such a list. I'm just saying that in 2013, it doesn't boast as many truly great breweries as a lot of the cities on this list.

That's kind of like saying Brooklyn's best baseball team is the Dodgers.

Look, I'm not saying Philly shouldn't be on a list of great beer cities, or even that it shouldn't be high on such a list. I'm just saying that in 2013, it doesn't boast as many truly great breweries as a lot of the cities on this list.

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You got a magical multi-brewery list for Kalamazoo? Oh, only Bell's? Hmm...

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That's kind of like saying Brooklyn's best baseball team is the Dodgers.

Look, I'm not saying Philly shouldn't be on a list of great beer cities, or even that it shouldn't be high on such a list. I'm just saying that in 2013, it doesn't boast as many truly great breweries as a lot of the cities on this list.

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The list seems to be geared around metropolitan areas and even combines some (Kalamazoo-Grand Rapids) so it would make sense to include the breweries in Philly Burbs.

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30 mile radius of Waterbury VT takes the entire city of Boston, slaps it on its jammy and splits it in half. I lived in Boston for 8 years and can confidently say that the Waterbury/Stowe zone pubs are LOADED with amazing brews and knowledgable beer geeks that crush Boston's snooze fest of blueberry beers and Sam Adams. Blackback Pub, Resivoir Taproom and Prohibition Pig in Waterbury are all on the same block and better than any advocate pub crawl Boston can offer(minus drunk college cuties). If you hit Montpieler the Three Penny taproom may not have as many taps as Sunset Grill, but is way better pound for pound. Worthy Burger in South Royalton has a better beer/burger combo than anyplace in the entire state of MA. I live 1hr from Boston(Concord NH) and almost always choose the extra hour to hit VT. Was at Worthy Burger last nite, look at the second half of their beer board: www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=592426127438279&set=pb.419488274732066.-2207520000.1359518149&type=3&theater

Beer Trader

Beer Trader

what's in boston that even justifies it entering into the conversation of top beer cities? i'm asking honestly because i'm up there all the time and would love to stop off at some places. i know sam adams and harpoon are up there but thats not enough to put it on this kind of list.

Beer Trader

To be fair, the whole conversation started because Nickydee21 said even the BMC dive bars in Philly have Victory and Yards, which doesn't sound terribly different than the BMC bars in Seattle having three different Ambers.

Dude, this is the Interwebz.
We Philly cheerleaders can't be bothered to actually read the article in the embedded link. We're too busy drinking whalez.
Besides, OP titled his thread poorly.
Furthermore, the article is preceded & linked by "America's Top Ten Beer Towns" and only later mentions "brewing".
And I also can't believe you're defending his list.

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Well, you guys have a point. A number of the breweries listed for Seattle aren't within city limits either.

As for the mixed-up titles, it's possible that an editor or whoever actually puts the material on the website gave it the misleading headline.

I just hope the BA who compiled this list shows up here to defend it (I forget his current username, or I'd personally invite him to join in). I guarantee a holy shit storm will ensue, followed by this thread's inevitable deletion.

Oh, I almost forgot because I'm a little drunk at the moment. Tired Hands in Ardmore takes royal shits on EVERY SINGLE brewery located in/around Boston, Seattle, Kalamazoo, Bend, and Portland. Armore is literally within pissing distance of Philadelphia...considering Philadelphia is bordered by Montgomery Avenue which is the spine of Ardmore, so if Boulder/Denver (and I grew up in Colorado) are combined (40 miles apart) and Kalamazoo/Grand Rapids are mentioned in the same sentence, Philadelphia now has in excess of ten breweries that you've all jerked off to at one point or another.
...and we still have Tired Hands.

Oh, I almost forgot because I'm a little drunk at the moment. Tired Hands in Ardmore takes royal shits on EVERY SINGLE brewery located in/around Boston, Seattle, Kalamazoo, Bend, and Portland. Armore is literally within pissing distance of Philadelphia...considering Philadelphia is bordered by Montgomery Avenue while is the spine of Ardmore, so if Boulder/Denver (and I grew up in Colorado) are combined (40 miles apart) and Kalamazoo/Grand Rapids are mentioned in the same sentence, Philadelphia now has in excess of ten breweries that you've all jerked off to at one point or another.
...and we still have Tired Hands.

Beer Trader

what's in boston that even justifies it entering into the conversation of top beer cities? i'm asking honestly because i'm up there all the time and would love to stop off at some places. i know sam adams and harpoon are up there but thats not enough to put it on this kind of list.

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Boston has a decent beer culture in that it's not hard to get a craft beer and the populace generally seems to appreciate craft. You can get a decent beer in most places. And there are some good local brews. It's not amongst the greats, but as a craft beer drinker there are much worse places.

Boston has a decent beer culture in that it's not hard to get a craft beer and the populace generally seems to appreciate craft. You can get a decent beer in most places. And there are some good local brews. It's not amongst the greats, but as a craft beer drinker there are much worse places.

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I'm gonna go ahead and call Shenanigans on this statement. When I lived in Boston, everyone drank Bud and Bud Light. I couldn't even find Sam Adams in most bars.